What Size Tote Bag?

At my chemo room they provide an endless supply of warm blankets and pillows. There are also drinks - water, juice or ginger ale. Back before covid there were volunteers with a snack cart but not anymore. You don't need a huge bag. My packing list is a water bottle, a small snack, my phone or ipad and headphones, kleenex pkg, hat & shawl. I often watched an episode of a show on netflix on my ipad while hands were in the mitts. I bring an extra hat and scarf just because I sometimes get cold with the icing socks & mitts.

hth!

LW - you should visit your chemo infusion room. They'll usually let you take a tour. Maybe with a nurse navigator?

Some have drinks & blankets. Some not. Some are individual cubicles separated by curtains - or even walls. Mine was one big room. Some order out lunch for anyone who wants (you pay of course). I agree about wheels. I brought a small wheeled cooler with my cokes & peas for icing my hands & feet but they let me put the 2nd round of peas in their freezer to keep colder. I am ALWAYS cold so I took a jacket, a stocking cap & gloves (when I wasn't icing) in addition to their warm blankets. I brought my own snacks. A book, a phone, an MP3 player (yeah it was awhile ago). If you're going by yourself, as I did, the wheels are particularly important.

You really won't know everything you'll need until after the first pass. If you have someone to go buy drugs & things for you down the road as things come up - you're covered. I did not, so I had to guess at things and probably over prepared.

If you don't have a port, you'll have IV into your arm most likely. If that happens, you do NOT want to be wearing a jacket or something with sleeves. A shawl or poncho without sleeves, which you can pull on/off over your head if needed, will work much better. It was a mistake I made once. Good luck!

I took nothing but keys, phone and wallet and I didn't use any of them. I spent most of my infusion too groggy from the benadryl to do anything while simultaneously trying to tolerate the discomfort of the cold cap and watching the level in the IV bag drop. My mother would drive me home and I would crawl straight in to bed and fall asleep.

LW,

I bought a tote bag with wheels that I would put in the mail to you if it's something you would want. I used it to haul cool packs (I iced hands and feet), iPad, etc. But to do over, I'm not sure I would buy it. I'd love to send it to you if it would help you. I could mail it tomorrow if you PM me your address. It would be better than it rotting in my closet. 😉

Yes, Minus, when LW finishes treatment and Covid is in the rearview mirror, let's have a party! I am so ready for a party!

My center had snacks and I could order lunch if I wanted and it was complimentary 😁 I was fasting so I did not take advantage of the snack or lunch but with herceptin I have had lunch. Also check to see if your center has a freezer. I would drop my gloves and booties off in the freezer before I met with my oncologist and the staff would bring them to me before I started my taxatore. So a cooler wasn't necessary. I too was pretty sleepy from the benadryl and slept until it was time for the taxatore. I always brought my Snoozie Slippers. Just felt cozy to me. I brought my own throw the first few times but stopped when I downsized my tote. Side note...I had one of my essential oils to smell when they flushed the port. Some say it keeps the metal taste out of your mouth and throat. Worked! Good luck.

Hey Mae - I hope you'll be a part of a Houston lunch group. Even though it may be the end of the year, we'll plan a day when you are here for tests - instead of there. Beesy - for sure. And I need to get back in touch with JB Dayton.

Funny - several other locations have active ongoing groups. (think Hill Country or the ladies in Florida). I've been fortunate to have lunch with some Texas ladies, but somehow Houston could never keep a group going.

I found out about that after my first taxol infusion. Then I realized that the nurse who hung around puttering and click-clacking on the computer was casually watching me like a hawk. Great nurse.

LW - I drove myself, by myself to chemo in the medical center every time. And home again after 8 hours of infusions. Easily 45 min to an hour. And then to the second round of chemo infusions after surgery. No need to panic. Don't even think about being "a wreck". You will be FINE and everyone at MDA is very helpful.

BTW - I also drove myself to rads by myself every time. That drive and the time to get changed before & after & then home again was 10x as long as a 5 minute zap.

Well there really ARE times it's reasonable to play the "cancer card", but you're going forward girl!!! Of course your scared. We all were AND are. So should we mention big girl panties?? But as has often been said - you don't have to put your best foot forward or have a smile on your face. You just have to show up.